Safety ski binding

ABSTRACT

An expanding member is adapted to be screw-connected to the ski and serves to expand two pantograph arms having forward end portions pivoted to a coupling link, before the expanding member and rear end portions, which are pulled toward each other behind the expanding member by a spring. Elements for guiding and retaining the pantograph arms are adapted to be screw-connected to the ski and prevent a displacement of the pantograph in the longitudinal direction of the ski but enable a pivotal movement of the pantograph about the expanding member.

United States Patent Hannes Marker llauptstrasse 51-53, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany 808,084

Mar. 18, 1969 June 8, 1 971 Mar. 26, 1968 Germany Inventor Appl. No.Filed Patented Priority SAFETY SKI BINDING 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

11.8. CI 280/1135 Int. Cl A63c 9/081 Field of Search 280/1 [.35

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1954 Beyl ..280/1 [.35 (CB)3,079,163 2/1963 DeBeausacq ...280/1 1.35 (AA) 3,095,210 6/1963 Hallam..280/1 1.35 (CB) 3,129,951 4/1964 Lusser ...280/1 1.35 (HA) 3,305,2422/1967 Marker ..280/11.35 (TT) 3,489,424 l/1970 Gertsch et a1...280/11.35 (CA) Primary Examiner- Kenneth H. Betts Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney-Fleit, Gipple and Jacobson ABSTRACT: Anexpanding member is adapted to be screwconnected to the ski and servesto expand two pantograph arms having forward end portions pivoted to acoupling link, before the expanding member and rear end portions, whichare pulled toward each other behind the expanding member by a spring.Elements for guiding and retaining the pantograph arms are adapted to bescrew-connected to the ski and prevent a displacement of the pantographin the longitudinal direction of the ski but enable a pivotal movementof the pantograph about the expanding member.

PATENTEI] JUN 8 I971 3583.719

sum 1 or 3 I? TTDRNEyS PATENTEU JUN 8 WI 3583719 sum 2 [IF 3 IL! I l INVENTOR H'R/W/ E6 HHRHEK HTT RIVEyS SAFETY SKI BINDING The presentinvention relates to a safety ski binding and is characterized by anexpanding member, which is adapted to be screw-connected to the ski andserves to expand two pantograph arms having forward end portions, whichbefore the expanding member are pivoted to a coupling link, and rear endportions, which are pulled toward each other behind the expanding memberby a spring, elements for guiding and retaining the pantograph beingadapted to be screw-connected to the ski and preventing a displacementof the pantograph in the longitudinal direction of the ski but enablinga pivotal movement of the pantograph about the expanding member.

Ski bindings are known which have a soleplate, which is mounted on theski for rotation about a vertical axis and carries jaws for retainingthe toe portion of the skiing boot and can be swung out of its normalposition against spring force.

These ski bindings have various disadvantages, which are avoided in thesafety ski binding according to the invention. The means for restoringone of the known ski bindings must be accommodated in a recess formed inthe ski. Such recesses cannot be formed in modern skis so that saidknown ski binding cannot be used in practice. In another known design,two helical tension springs are respectively disposed before and behindthe soleplate and are connected at one end to the soleplate and theother end to the ski and resiliently hold the soleplate in its normalposition. This design has a large overall length particularly becausethe means for holding down the heel of the boot must be added.

In the safety ski binding according to the invention, the retainingmeans, e.g., the toe jaws for retaining the toe portion of the skiingboot, are provided on a coupling link by which two pivoted levers arearticulatedly connected. In a design which has proved particularlysimple and desirable, the coupling link carries a mouthlike abutment forthe toe portion of the skiing boot and this abutment has an angled topend portion for engaging the edge portion of the sole from above so thatthere is no need for an adjustment to various forms of the boot toeportions. An adjustment for adaptation to soles differing in thicknessmust be provided for only if the upper end portion of the abutment isright-angled rather than angled obliquely upwardly.

The rear end portions of the pantograph arms suitably carry a baseplate,which serves to hold a holding-down device, which is under the influenceof a spring element. The holdingdown device may consist of a knownheel-holding device, which releases the skiing boot under an overload.

In a special embodiment of the safety ski binding according to theinvention, each pantograph arm may be provided on its outside withdownpull hooks and the coupling link may carry a cable tightener.

In a development of the invention, the safety ski binding may be used asa universal binding both for downhill and cross-country skiing if theabutment for the toe portion of the skiing boot is pivoted on ahorizontal axis which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of theski.

If there is no tightener and cable for holding down the heel, the safetyski binding according to the invention will enable cross-country skiingif a soleplate extends from the lower end of the abutment for the toeportion of the skiing boot and is provided with a heel-holding device. Astop for limiting the pivotal movement of the soleplate may be providedon the pivot for the abutment.

It has been found particularly desirable to provide a soleplate whichextends rearwardly beyond the skiing boot and is pivoted at its free endto the holding-down device and carries a heel-holding device which canbe only arbitrarily released. With this design, the skiing boot will notbe released by the binding in case of a fall and there is no danger ofan injury being inflicted to the skier by an impact of a ski. In allembodiments previously described, dangerous twisting forces will not betransmitted to the skier's legs because an overload will result in arelative movement between the pantograph arms and the ski. In thelast-mentioned embodiment, an excessive upward tension on the heel,e.g., during a forward fall, will cause the holding-down device to yieldto such an extent that the soleplate and the skiing boot resting thereoncan be pivotally moved upwardly so that the force cannot becomeeffective on the leg of the skier.

Embodiments of the subject matter of the invention will be describedmore fully hereinafter by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing asafety ski binding according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the binding of FIG. 1 but with thepantograph in a deflected position, such as is assumed under the actionof an excessive twisting force,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing a ski binding according to a secondembodiment,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing the ski binding of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing a ski binding according to a thirdembodiment and FIG. 6 is a side elevation showing the ski bindingaccording to FIG. 5.

The safety ski binding according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 1and 2 comprises an expanding member 1, which is screw-connected to a ski2 by means which are not shown. In the present case, the expandingmember has the form of a rectangle having rounded corners. On both sidesof the expanding member, two pantograph arms 3 and 4 extendlongitudinally of the ski. At their forward end portions extending fromthe expanding member toward the forward end of the ski, the pantographarms are pivoted to a coupling link 7 at 5 and 6. At their rear endportions extending from the expanding member to the rear, the pantographarms are pulled toward each other by a spring 8 so that the twopantograph arms will always firmly engage the sides of the ex andingmember when the ski binding is in normal position (see FIG. 1). Aguiding and retaining element 9 is mounted on the ski before thecoupling link 7 and is stepped upwardly on its side facing the couplinglink so that a groove is formed between said stepped edge portion andthe ski and serves to guide the forward end of the coupling link. Aguiding and retaining element 10 which is similar to the element 9 ismounted on the ski behind the pantograph arms. The stepped side of theelement 10 is engaged from below by the free end portions of thepantograph arms 3 and 4. The arrangement of the guiding and retainingelements 9 and 10 is such that they hold the pantograph against adisplacement in the longitudinal direction of the ski but enable apivotal movement of the pantograph about the expanding member 1. Toprevent a separation of the pantograph from the ski when the pantographhas disengaged the guiding and retaining elements, the expanding member1 also carries a lock washer 11, which is so large in diameter that itwill at least partly engage the pantograph arms from above even whenthey are expanded as far as possible.

The coupling link 7 carries a mouthlike abutment 12 for the toe portionof the skiing boot. The upper free end portion of said abutment isobliquely angled upwardly so that it can engage the edge of the solefrom above. This abutment is adapted to receive any desired boot toeportion, regardless of the thickness of the sole. The rear end portionsof the pantograph arms 3 and 4 carry a baseplate 13, to which a suitableholding-down member for the heel can be screw-connected. Thisholding-down member releases the skiing boot in response to an overload.Such holding-down member for the heel does not form a part of thepresent invention so that only a step-in binding 14 is indicated indash-dot lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 for a better understanding. Thebaseplate has two curved elongated holes 15 and 16, through whichretaining pins 17 and 18 respectively extend. These pins are secured tothe pantograph arms 3 and 4.

Under the influence of the spring 8, the safety ski binding normallyassumes the position shown in FIG. 1. When the step-in binding 14 isopen, the skier can step into the binding in the usual manner. When aforce exceeding the initial stress of the spring 3 acts on a leg of theskier in the longitudinal direction of the ski, this force will cause apivotal movement of the pantograph and the two pantograph arms 3 and 4will be forced apart because the expanding member l is noncircular. As aresult, the spring 8 is stressed above its initial stress (see FIG. 2).When the force decreases, the spring 8 will return the pantograph to itsinitial position. The design is such that during a twisting fall of theskier the pantograph can perform a pivotal movement to such an extentthat the leg of the skier will not be injured only because the skiingboot is not released by the binding. If an excessive tension acts on theskiers heel, the step-in binding 14 will be released in normal manner sothat the skiing boot is released by the binding.

The safety ski binding according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 3and 4 is basically similar to the design shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

There is alsoan expanding member I. The two pantograph arms 20 and 21are pivoted to a coupling link 22 and are pulled against the expandingmember I under the action of a spring 8. Guiding and retaining elements9 and serve again to hold the pantograph against a displacement in thelongitudinal direction of the ski and to enable a pivotal movement ofthe pantograph about the expanding member 1. Just as in the embodimentpreviously described, the expanding member 1 carries a lock washer Ill.

This embodiment differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that a mouthlikeabutment 23 for the toe portion of the skiing boot is not rigidlymounted on the coupling link 22 but is pivoted on a horizontal axle 24,which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski. Eachpantograph arm 20 and 21 is provided on its outside, adjacent to theankle axis, with a downpull hook 25, into and out of which a cable canbe hooked at will. Another downpull hook 26 is provided on eachlongitudinal side of the coupling link 22 below the abutment 23. Thesedownpull hooks 26 are so-called captive hooks, which do not permit of aremoval of the cable by hand. A cable tightener 27 is provided on thecoupling link 22 before the abutment 23 and serves in known manner totighten a cable 28, which is divided adjacent to the heel of a skiingboot and carries a holding-down member 29 for the heel. Thisholding-down member is provided with a safety release device to avoidinjury to the skier in case of a forward fall.

In FIGS. 3 and d, the safety ski binding is shown in the correctposition for downhill skiing. A skiing boot is indicated in dash-dotlines in FIG. l. The safety ski binding can be altered to be suitablefor cross-country skiing in a simple manner, known per se, in that thecable is disengaged from the hooks 23 and the tightener 27 is adjustedso that the holding-down member for the heel is pulled with the correcttension against the sole of the skiing boot. Because the abutment 23 ispivoted on the axle 24, cross-country skiing is facilitated and there isno danger of a damage to the edge portion of the sole; this danger ispresent where fixed jaws are used. The pivotal movement of thepantograph under the influence of a force which acts on the leg of theskier transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski and thereturn movement of the pantograph are effected as has been describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 so that this description need not berepeated.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of a safety ski binding accordingto the invention. Just as in the two embodiments previously described,an expanding member 1 is secured to the ski and the two pantograph arms31 and 32 are pivoted to a coupling link 33 and pulled against theexpanding member ll under the influence of a spring, not shown. Just asin the embodiments previously described, guiding and retaining elements9 and it) serve to hold the pantograph against a displacement in thelongitudinal direction of the ski and to enable a pivotal movement ofthe pantograph about the expanding member 1. The expanding member I isagain provided with the lock washer II.

In this embodiment, the mouthlike abutment 34 for the toe portion of theskiing boot is firmly connected to a soleplate 35, which by means ofhorizontal pivot pins 36 extending transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the ski is pivoted to the coupling link 33. A known heeltightener 37, which can be only arbitrarily opened, serves to hold theskiing boot, indicated in dash-dot lines, on the soleplate. Just as inthe embodiment first described, the rear end portions of the pantographarms 31 and 32 carry a baseplate 38 (see particularly FIG. 6), whichcarries a holding-down device 39. A prying member 40 of thatholding-down device is pivoted at its free end at 41 to a verticalextension at the rear end of the soleplate. The other end of the pryingmember is pivoted to a link lever 42, which is pivoted to a support 4-3,which stands on the baseplate 44 of the holding-down device 39. Aselector lever 45 is pivoted to the vertex of the angle link lever 42and at its free end carries a U-shaped loop member 46, which hasdepending legs provided with means for connection to respective tensionsprings 47. Each tension spring is held at its lower end on thebaseplate 44 approximately under the vertex of the link lever and isprestressed as required. In known manner, the springs and the selectorlever may selectively assume one of two positions. One position is theso-called downhill skiing position and the other position, shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, is the cross-country skiing position. The selector leverand the springs can be pivotally moved in the counterclockwise sense inFIG. 6 into the downhill skiing position. In the position forcross-country skiing, shown on the drawings, the free end of thesoleplate 35 can sufficiently lift from the ski and from the pantographarms.

Independently of the selected position of the selector lever 45 and thesprings 47, the soleplate 35 is lifted in any case against the force ofthe springs 47. When the selector lever with the springs is in itsdownhill skiing position, not shown, and an excessive upward tension isapplied to the heel, e.g., as a result of a forward fall, the link lever42 will perform an upward pivotal movement into a position in which theselector lever 65 and the springs 47 are automatically caused to swingto the position shown. In this case, the prying member 40 yieldssufficiently so that the force does not act onthe skiers leg and cannotresult in a typical skiing injury. With this design of the safety skibinding according to the invention, a fall of whatever kind will notcause the skiing boot to be released by the binding so that there is noneed for a special retaining belt and no danger of an injury beinginflicted to the skier by the impact of the ski.

The coupling link connecting the forward end portions of the pantographarms may extend closer to the expanding member than in the embodimentsshown so that the length of the pantograph arm portions between thecoupling link and the expanding member is reduced. This is advantageousbecause it results in a higher resistance to bending.

In the embodiments described by way of example with reference to thedrawings, the straight-lined inner longitudinal sides of the pantographarms contact the expanding member and the guiding and retaining elements9 and it) hold the coupling link and the pantograph arms against adisplacement in the longitudinal direction of the ski. If the expandingmember is more elliptical in cross section, the arms may not onlylaterally engage the expanding member but may be provided with suitablerecesses so that they can partly embrace the expanding member. This willprevent a longitudinal displacement so that the guiding and retainingelements serve substantially only to prevent an upward movement of thecoupling link and the pantograph arms and may be spaced from these partsin the longitudinal direction of the ski. This arrangement will avoid aseizing of the coupling link and pantograph arms between the guiding andretaining elements if the ski bends, e.g., when the skier is movingthrough a depres- SIOII.

lclaim:

1. A safety ski binding comprising a noncircular expanding memberadapted to be connected to a ski; said expanding member serving toexpand two pantograph arms; said pantograph arms having forward endportions pivoted to a coupling link in front of the expanding member andrear end portions which are pulled toward each other behind theexpanding member by a spring, and guiding and retaining elements mountedto said ski; said guiding and retaining elements being arranged in frontof said pantograph arms and behind said pantograph arms to allow theends of said pantograph arms to rest so that the pantograph arms aresecured from displacement in the longitudinal direction of a ski but arepermitted to pivot around the expanding member.

2. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the coupling linkcarries a mouthlike abutment for the toe portion of the skiing boot andthe abutment has an angled upper end portion for engaging the edgeportion of the sole from above.

3. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the rear endportions of the pantograph arms carry a baseplate which serves to hold aholding-down device that is under the action of a spring element.

4. A safety ski binding according to claim 3 holding-down deviceconsists of a known heel-holding device wherein the which releases theskiing boot under an overload.

5. A safety ski binding according to claim 1,.wherein each pantographarm is provided on its outside with downpull hooks and the coupling linkcarries a cable tightener.

6. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the abutment forthe toe portion of the skiing boot is pivoted on a horizontal axismember which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of theski.

7. A safety ski binding according to claim 6, wherein a soleplateextends from the lower end of the abutment for the toe portion of theskiing boot and is provided with a heel-holding device.

8. A safety ski binding according to claim 7, wherein the soleplateextends behind the skiing boot and is pivoted at its free end to theholding-down device and carries a heel-holding device which is onlyarbitrarily releasable.

1. A safety ski binding comprising a noncircular expanding member adapted to be connected to a ski; said expanding member serving to expand two pantograph arms; said pantograph arms having forward end portions pivoted to a coupling link in front of the expanding member and rear end portions which are pulled toward each other behind the expanding member by a spring, and guiding and retaining elements mounted to said ski; said guiding and retaining elements being arranged in front of said pantograph arms and behind said pantograph arms to allow the ends of said pantograph arms to rest so that the pantograph arms are secured from displacement in the longitudinal direction of a ski but are permitted to pivot around the expanding member.
 2. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the coupling link carries a mouthlike abutment for the toe portion of the skiing boot and the abutment has an angled upper end portion for engaging the edge portion of the sole from above.
 3. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the rear end portions of the pantograph arms carry a baseplate which serves to hold a holding-down device that is under the action of a spring element.
 4. A safety ski binding according to claim 3, wherein the holding-down device consists of a known heel-holding device which releases the skiing boot under an overload.
 5. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein each pantograph arm is provided on its outside with downpull hooks and the coupling link carries a cable tightener.
 6. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, wherein the abutment for the toe portion of the skiing boot is pivoted on a horizontal axis member which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski.
 7. A safety ski binding according to claim 6, wherein a soleplate extends from the lower end of the abutment for the toe portion of the skiing boot and is provided with a heel-holding device.
 8. A safety ski binding according to claim 7, wherein the soleplate extends behind the skiing boot and is pivoted at its free end to the holding-down device and carries a heel-holding device which is only arbitrarily releasable. 